Recently, you may have had the opportunity to discover a singular product: Kappa no Doburoku, from the Kumazawa brewery. And because one good discovery often leads to another, let yourself be seduced by another nugget from the same house: Offshore, an exceptional sake.

“Offshore” is a term for a wind blowing from land to sea, a wind that generates clean, well-formed waves. Ideal surfing conditions for the best possible sensations. As you can imagine, it's this feeling of freedom that the Kumazawa brewery wanted to convey in this cuvée. It's worth noting that the producer is located in a region blessed by Tokyo's riders, an area known as the Shonan Coast. We're south of Tokyo, on the edge of the Pacific, a magnificent coastline on which to surf, with the added bonus of a breathtaking view of Mount Fuji!The Shonan coast - surfing with a view of Mount Fuji

But Offshore is also an invitation to relax, the term “off” referring to those moments when you unplug from the daily grind, when you take the time to savor good moments of relaxation. Kumazawa is much more than a brasserie; it's a veritable local cultural center, bustling with locals and tourists alike. It's a simple, relaxed place where you can sample the fruits and vegetables produced by the community. A taste of Southern California for the archipelago's ugliest backyard brewery.Kumazawa Brewery in Kanagawa

This slow-life atmosphere is reflected in Offshore's choice of ingredients: the BK-5 yeast was extracted from the biotope of a former air-raid shelter in Shonan! It produces remarkably smooth, fresh aromas. As for the water used for brewing, it is rather hard, with an index of 150 mg/l. It comes from underground reserves fed by two rivers in the Tanzawa mountains. It lends a certain firmness and depth to the aromas. Finally, the rice is Gohyakumangoku, grown in Shonan itself. It brings texture and richness.


With this information in mind, tasting Offshore takes us straight to the sands of the Pacific coast, in a fresh, aromatic contemplation. A sake evoking lime, banana and invigorating notes of sea breeze. Wave energy, minerality, plus a hint of salt. There's no doubt about it: the essence of Shonan has been captured!